Since its announcement in 2022, updates on the live-action adaptation of BioShock had been scarce, but producers now confirm the project is actively in progress. On the 9th (local time), Roy Lee, a producer at Vertigo Entertainment who is attached to the BioShock film, spoke with The Direct about its current state. The interview had originally been arranged to promote The Long Walk, but because both director Francis Lawrence and producer Roy Lee are leading the live-action BioShock, questions on the film naturally followed.

BioShock is a game created by Irrational Games that fuses a dieselpunk-inspired aesthetic with FPS gameplay, set against a 1960s backdrop. It gained acclaim for its philosophically rich worldbuilding. 2K Marin’s BioShock 2 was also well received, and Irrational’s later release BioShock Infinite earned widespread critical praise for its layered storytelling, narrative depth, and dramatic twist payoffs—hailed by many as one of the best game stories of the 21st century.

A live-action adaptation was first announced in 2008 in partnership with Universal Pictures, but the project eventually fell silent. After Irrational Games was shuttered following restructuring, that attempt was shelved entirely. Then in 2019, 2K announced the revival of the BioShock franchise alongside news of a new title in development. In 2022, Netflix and Vertigo Entertainment reignited excitement by re-announcing the film, but after that, leadership changes at Netflix in 2024 and news of a project reorganization sparked rumors that it might be canceled.

Lee explained in the interview that details couldn’t be disclosed due to a confidentiality agreement with Netflix, but he emphasized that the adaptation is firmly based on the first BioShock game. He noted that the schedule has been drawn out because the script and adaptation work have taken longer than expected.

During that time, director Francis Lawrence has been filming The Long Walk, and he has also committed to the upcoming Hunger Games installment, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Lee said that script development on BioShock is still underway and that filming is expected to start once work on Sunrise on the Reaping is complete. Considering that the Hunger Games prequel is currently slated for a November 20, 2026 release, outlets such as The Direct and GamesIndustry are forecasting that BioShock will debut sometime after that.

This article was translated from the original that appeared on INVEN.